Marathon man rolls back the years

Ex-squaddie Ricky Hardman insists he’s not daunted by the prospect of taking on the world’s toughest foot-race.

The 42-year-old’s confidence in his ability to complete the 156-mile Marathon des Sables in the Sahara Desert is not without foundation either.

Twenty years ago he joined army colleagues on a marathon relay which took them all the way from wartorn Bosnia back to their Maidstone base.

He said: “In my mind I know I can do it. I’ve dealt with everything involved in the Marathon des Sables at some point in my army career - the distance, the heat and having to carry my own kit. I’m 20 years older now though so my body might disagree!

“These days I’m a crane operator for Hewden. It’s not a very mobile job and I just fancied a challenge. I’ve always been into stuff like this and I’ve been putting in 80 miles a week in training.”

Back in the mid 1990s, Ricky, of Portico, was part of a 10-strong team of soldiers who took on a 1,000-mile relay running challenge from Bosnia to the UK.

The team took it in turns to drive, navigate and run and used a camper van which had been donated by well-wishers.

As if it wasn’t already hard enough, the challenge got tougher and tougher as four of the team ended up dropping out.

Kind-hearted organisers even arranged for the soldiers to have to carry on running on a treadmill while crossing the English Channel on a ferry!

Ricky admits he was a bit miffed when he found out that Saints legend Paul Sculthorpe had also signed up for this year’s Marathon des Sables - as he wanted to be the first St Helens man ever to complete the course.

But, while Scully is set to call in a few favours to do some training in a heat chamber at Liverpool John Moores University, Ricky is doing all his preparation at his local council gym!

He said: “The hardest thing for me has been trying to fit my training around my full-time job. I sometimes works 12 to 14-hour days, so getting enough training in has been difficult.

“I’ve got to go up to Scotland on a job until the week before I go too, which will make things even tougher. I don’t think my body knows what’s hit it. I’ve picked up a few niggling injuries which have hampered me too.”